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Pain is hard enough to cope with when you can describe it. But what happens when your parent cannot easily tell you they are hurting? For older people living with dementia, or with communication difficulties after a stroke, or simply with a lifelong reluctance to complain, pain can go unnoticed and untreated, causing real and needless suffering.

Learning to recognise the signs is one of the most valuable and compassionate things a family, or a carer, can do. Here is how to spot pain in a parent who cannot easily put it into words.

Why pain so often goes unrecognised

There are a few reasons pain in older people is missed so often, and understanding them is the first step to catching it.

Some people cannot communicate it. Dementia can make it hard for someone to say they are in pain, or to know where it hurts. A stroke or other condition may affect speech. Some people are unable to express it in words at all.

Many people downplay it. A great many older people are stoical about pain. They may not want to complain, or to be a burden, or they may believe, wrongly, that pain is simply a normal part of getting older that must be put up with.

It gets misread. Perhaps most importantly, pain often shows itself as a change in behaviour, and that change gets blamed on something else. New agitation in a person with dementia, for example, is frequently assumed to be \"just the dementia,\" when in fact the person is in pain and cannot say so.

Why it matters so much

Unrecognised pain is not a small thing. It causes genuine, unnecessary suffering, and it drives all sorts of knock-on problems: distress and agitation, low mood, poor sleep, reduced movement, loss of appetite, and withdrawal from the things a person enjoys.

And here is a message worth holding onto firmly: pain is not an inevitable part of ageing that simply has to be endured. In the great majority of cases, it can be treated or eased. Recognising it and getting it addressed can transform an older person's comfort, mood and dignity. No one should have to suffer pain in silence.

The signs to look for

Since your parent may not be able to tell you in words, the key is to watch for other cues. Pain often reveals itself through:

Facial expressions, such as grimacing, frowning, wincing, a tense or frightened look, or a clenched jaw.

Sounds, such as groaning, moaning, whimpering, crying out, sighing, or noisy breathing, particularly when moving.

Body language and movement, such as guarding or protecting a part of the body, rubbing an area, tensing up, restlessness or fidgeting, rocking, limping, or a new reluctance to move at all.

Changes in behaviour, which can go either way. Some people become agitated, irritable or even aggressive. Others become unusually quiet, withdrawn or low. Confusion may appear or worsen.

Changes in daily patterns, such as sleeping badly, eating less, or losing interest in usual activities.

The single most useful thing to look for is a change from how your parent normally is. It is the new agitation, the new reluctance, the sound they do not usually make, that most often signals something is wrong.

Watch especially during movement and care

Here is a practical tip that helps enormously. Pain very often shows itself most clearly when a person moves, or during personal care such as washing, dressing or being helped to move.

So if your parent winces, cries out, tenses, or resists at these moments, take it seriously. In particular, resisting care that they would usually accept is a common and easily missed sign of pain, rather than simple reluctance. Someone who suddenly does not want to be moved or touched in a certain way may well be hurting.

Look for the cause

When you suspect pain, it is worth thinking about what might be causing it, as some causes are easily treated once found. Common culprits include:

Our guide to UTIs and sudden confusion explains more about how a physical problem can show up as a change in behaviour.

What to do

If you suspect your parent is in pain, please do not dismiss it as just their age or their condition. Instead:

A GP can assess the situation and treat the pain. Reassuringly, healthcare professionals have proper ways of assessing pain even in people who cannot describe it themselves, including those living with dementia, so your parent's pain can be taken seriously and managed even when they cannot explain it.

How a live-in carer helps

This is an area where having a consistent carer who truly knows your parent makes a real difference. Because they are with your parent day in and day out, a live-in carer comes to know their normal demeanour intimately, and is therefore well placed to notice the subtle changes that signal pain, the slight wince, the new reluctance, the sound that is not usually there.

A familiar carer will often pick up on discomfort that a rushed visit, or someone who does not know the person, would miss entirely. They can then help with comfort and positioning, flag their concerns promptly to you and the GP, and make sure your parent's pain is recognised and addressed rather than quietly endured. That continuity, and that attentiveness, is one of the quiet but genuine benefits of live-in care.

No one should suffer in silence

Your parent should never have to bear pain alone and unnoticed simply because they cannot easily express it. By learning to read the signs, and with attentive, consistent care, pain can be spotted, understood and treated, protecting your parent's comfort, wellbeing and dignity.

If you would like to talk through how we support the comfort and wellbeing of the people we care for, we would be glad to help.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.

This guide offers general information and is not medical advice. If you think your loved one may be in pain, please speak to their GP or another healthcare professional, who can assess and treat it properly.

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  • a wound, sore, or pressure area on the skin
  • an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, which can also cause sudden confusion
  • constipation, which is a very common and overlooked cause of discomfort
  • an injury from an unnoticed fall or knock
  • dental or mouth problems
  • joint pain or arthritis
  • something as simple as a full bladder, or ill-fitting shoes or clothing
    • ","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"Our guide to UTIs and sudden confusion explains more about how a physical problem can show up as a change in behaviour.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"H2","innerHtml":"What to do","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":"what-to-do"}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"If you suspect your parent is in pain, please do not dismiss it as just their age or their condition. Instead:","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"UL","innerHtml":"
  • look for an obvious cause you can see or address
  • tell their GP, describing the signs you have noticed and when they happen, such as on movement or during care, which is genuinely helpful information
  • trust your instinct. If you sense something is wrong, that is worth acting on
    • ","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"A GP can assess the situation and treat the pain. Reassuringly, healthcare professionals have proper ways of assessing pain even in people who cannot describe it themselves, including those living with dementia, so your parent's pain can be taken seriously and managed even when they cannot explain it.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"H2","innerHtml":"How a live-in carer helps","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":"how-a-live-in-carer-helps"}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"This is an area where having a consistent carer who truly knows your parent makes a real difference. 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By learning to read the signs, and with attentive, consistent care, pain can be spotted, understood and treated, protecting your parent's comfort, wellbeing and dignity.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"If you would like to talk through how we support the comfort and wellbeing of the people we care for, we would be glad to help.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}},{"tagName":"P","innerHtml":"This guide offers general information and is not medical advice. If you think your loved one may be in pain, please speak to their GP or another healthcare professional, who can assess and treat it properly.","attributes":{"data_edyn_component":null,"data_edyn_url":null,"class":null,"id":null}}]},"title":"Recognising Signs of Pain in a Parent Who Can't Easily Express It","meta_title":"Recognising Pain in a Parent Who Can't Easily Express It","meta_description":"Grimacing, new agitation, resisting care — pain often shows itself in behaviour, not words. How to spot pain in an older parent with dementia or communication difficulties.","custom_excerpt":null,"excerpt":"Pain is hard enough to cope with when you can describe it. But what happens when your parent cannot easily tell you they are hurting? For older people living with dementia, or with communication difficulties after a stroke, or simply with a lifelong reluctance to complain, pain can go unnoticed and untreated, causing real and needless suffering.\n\nLearning to recognise the signs is one of the most valuable and compassionate things a family, or a carer, can do. Here is how to spot pain in a parent","plaintext":"Pain is hard enough to cope with when you can describe it. But what happens when your parent cannot easily tell you they are hurting? For older people living with dementia, or with communication difficulties after a stroke, or simply with a lifelong reluctance to complain, pain can go unnoticed and untreated, causing real and needless suffering.\n\nLearning to recognise the signs is one of the most valuable and compassionate things a family, or a carer, can do. Here is how to spot pain in a parent who cannot easily put it into words.\n\n\nWhy pain so often goes unrecognised\n\nThere are a few reasons pain in older people is missed so often, and understanding them is the first step to catching it.\n\nSome people cannot communicate it. Dementia can make it hard for someone to say they are in pain, or to know where it hurts. A stroke or other condition may affect speech. Some people are unable to express it in words at all.\n\nMany people downplay it. A great many older people are stoical about pain. They may not want to complain, or to be a burden, or they may believe, wrongly, that pain is simply a normal part of getting older that must be put up with.\n\nIt gets misread. Perhaps most importantly, pain often shows itself as a change in behaviour, and that change gets blamed on something else. New agitation in a person with dementia, for example, is frequently assumed to be \"just the dementia,\" when in fact the person is in pain and cannot say so.\n\n\nWhy it matters so much\n\nUnrecognised pain is not a small thing. It causes genuine, unnecessary suffering, and it drives all sorts of knock-on problems: distress and agitation, low mood, poor sleep, reduced movement, loss of appetite, and withdrawal from the things a person enjoys.\n\nAnd here is a message worth holding onto firmly: pain is not an inevitable part of ageing that simply has to be endured. In the great majority of cases, it can be treated or eased. Recognising it and getting it addressed can transform an older person's comfort, mood and dignity. No one should have to suffer pain in silence.\n\n\nThe signs to look for\n\nSince your parent may not be able to tell you in words, the key is to watch for other cues. Pain often reveals itself through:\n\nFacial expressions, such as grimacing, frowning, wincing, a tense or frightened look, or a clenched jaw.\n\nSounds, such as groaning, moaning, whimpering, crying out, sighing, or noisy breathing, particularly when moving.\n\nBody language and movement, such as guarding or protecting a part of the body, rubbing an area, tensing up, restlessness or fidgeting, rocking, limping, or a new reluctance to move at all.\n\nChanges in behaviour, which can go either way. Some people become agitated, irritable or even aggressive. Others become unusually quiet, withdrawn or low. Confusion may appear or worsen.\n\nChanges in daily patterns, such as sleeping badly, eating less, or losing interest in usual activities.\n\nThe single most useful thing to look for is a change from how your parent normally is. It is the new agitation, the new reluctance, the sound they do not usually make, that most often signals something is wrong.\n\n\nWatch especially during movement and care\n\nHere is a practical tip that helps enormously. Pain very often shows itself most clearly when a person moves, or during personal care such as washing, dressing or being helped to move.\n\nSo if your parent winces, cries out, tenses, or resists at these moments, take it seriously. In particular, resisting care that they would usually accept is a common and easily missed sign of pain, rather than simple reluctance. Someone who suddenly does not want to be moved or touched in a certain way may well be hurting.\n\n\nLook for the cause\n\nWhen you suspect pain, it is worth thinking about what might be causing it, as some causes are easily treated once found. Common culprits include:\n\n * a wound, sore, or pressure area on the skin\n * an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, which can also cause sudden confusion\n * constipation, which is a very common and overlooked cause of discomfort\n * an injury from an unnoticed fall or knock\n * dental or mouth problems\n * joint pain or arthritis\n * something as simple as a full bladder, or ill-fitting shoes or clothing\n\nOur guide to UTIs and sudden confusion explains more about how a physical problem can show up as a change in behaviour.\n\n\nWhat to do\n\nIf you suspect your parent is in pain, please do not dismiss it as just their age or their condition. Instead:\n\n * look for an obvious cause you can see or address\n * tell their GP, describing the signs you have noticed and when they happen, such as on movement or during care, which is genuinely helpful information\n * trust your instinct. If you sense something is wrong, that is worth acting on\n\nA GP can assess the situation and treat the pain. Reassuringly, healthcare professionals have proper ways of assessing pain even in people who cannot describe it themselves, including those living with dementia, so your parent's pain can be taken seriously and managed even when they cannot explain it.\n\n\nHow a live-in carer helps\n\nThis is an area where having a consistent carer who truly knows your parent makes a real difference. Because they are with your parent day in and day out, a live-in carer comes to know their normal demeanour intimately, and is therefore well placed to notice the subtle changes that signal pain, the slight wince, the new reluctance, the sound that is not usually there.\n\nA familiar carer will often pick up on discomfort that a rushed visit, or someone who does not know the person, would miss entirely. They can then help with comfort and positioning, flag their concerns promptly to you and the GP, and make sure your parent's pain is recognised and addressed rather than quietly endured. That continuity, and that attentiveness, is one of the quiet but genuine benefits of live-in care.\n\n\nNo one should suffer in silence\n\nYour parent should never have to bear pain alone and unnoticed simply because they cannot easily express it. By learning to read the signs, and with attentive, consistent care, pain can be spotted, understood and treated, protecting your parent's comfort, wellbeing and dignity.\n\nIf you would like to talk through how we support the comfort and wellbeing of the people we care for, we would be glad to help.\n\nBook a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.\n\nThis guide offers general information and is not medical advice. If you think your loved one may be in pain, please speak to their GP or another healthcare professional, who can assess and treat it properly.","primary_tag":{"name":"Safety, health and wellbeing"},"slug":"recognising-signs-of-pain-in-a-parent-who-cant-easily-express-it","publishedDisplay":"13 Aug 2026","updatedDisplay":"13 Aug 2026","publishedIso":"2026-08-13T16:30:35.000+00:00","updatedIso":"2026-08-13T16:30:35.000+00:00","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#080808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/f19bc/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/26cfb/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/1b035/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/f19bc/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/921bf/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/b7ef5/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/c9c6a/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"primary_author":{"bio":"Communications and Marketing Lead","name":"Jamie Shie","slug":"jamie","profile_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#383838","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/2e55b/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.png","srcSet":"/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/5fbde/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.png 132w,\n/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/6672c/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.png 264w,\n/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/2e55b/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.png 528w","sizes":"(min-width: 528px) 528px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/df6d7/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.webp 132w,\n/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/5bda5/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.webp 264w,\n/static/4ce69bfa95322a3b177d8c8b946cc319/3155f/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-09.28.27.webp 528w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 528px) 528px, 100vw"}]},"width":528,"height":466}}}}},"relatedPosts":{"nodes":[{"title":"Recognising Signs of Pain in a Parent Who Can't Easily Express It","slug":"recognising-signs-of-pain-in-a-parent-who-cant-easily-express-it","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#080808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/f19bc/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/26cfb/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/1b035/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/f19bc/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/921bf/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/b7ef5/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/c8c66cacd7aa5f72e9576f44a407cfb9/c9c6a/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"Pain is hard enough to cope with when you can describe it. But what happens when your parent cannot easily tell you they are hurting? For older people living with dementia, or with communication difficulties after a stroke, or simply with a lifelong reluctance to complain, pain can go unnoticed and untreated, causing real and needless suffering.\n\nLearning to recognise the signs is one of the most valuable and compassionate things a family, or a carer, can do. Here is how to spot pain in a parent","published_at":"13 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Wandering and Dementia: How Live-in Care Reduces the Risk Safely","slug":"wandering-and-dementia-how-live-in-care-reduces-the-risk-safely","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/cea72/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/27dfb/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/93925/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/cea72/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/c3195/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/20248/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/5d67731adc6b35ab019ef697d1aded93/ae87b/chastagner-thierry-OzbtqCbn6mQ-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1395}}},"excerpt":"For families of someone living with dementia, few worries are as frightening as the thought of them leaving the house, becoming lost, and coming to harm. This tendency to walk about, often called wandering, is common in dementia, and it can be a genuine source of dread, especially at night, or if your loved one lives alone.\n\nThe reassuring news is that, with understanding and the right support, these risks can be greatly reduced, safely and with dignity. Here is how, and how live-in care helps i","published_at":"13 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Sundowning: What It Is and How Live-in Carers Manage It","slug":"sundowning-what-it-is-and-how-live-in-carers-manage-it","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#d8d8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/f19bc/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/26cfb/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/1b035/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/f19bc/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/921bf/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/b7ef5/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/0e1e2151ca13f754f95cbbd0e5639242/c9c6a/steven-hwg-zBsdRTHIIm4-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"If you care for someone living with dementia, you may have noticed a distressing pattern: as afternoon turns to evening, they become more confused, restless, anxious or agitated than they were earlier in the day. This is known as sundowning, and it is very common in dementia. It can be exhausting and upsetting, for the person experiencing it and for everyone around them.\n\nThe reassuring news is that sundowning can be understood, and there is a great deal that helps to ease it. Here is what it is","published_at":"13 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Communicating With a Parent in Later-Stage Dementia","slug":"communicating-with-a-parent-in-later-stage-dementia","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#d8c8b8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/f19bc/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/26cfb/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/1b035/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/f19bc/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/921bf/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/b7ef5/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/2c6a43b81adbad374389e36cc476a2aa/c9c6a/getty-images-z356KmWbajg-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"As dementia advances into its later stages, one of the hardest changes for families is what happens to communication. A parent may speak very little, or not at all. They may no longer follow what is said to them, and may not seem to recognise you. It can feel, heartbreakingly, as though you are losing the ability to reach the person you love.\n\nBut here is a truth worth holding onto tightly: connection is still possible, and still deeply meaningful, even when words are gone. It simply takes a dif","published_at":"13 Aug 2026"},{"title":"How to Communicate With a Parent Who Has Hearing Loss","slug":"how-to-communicate-with-a-parent-who-has-hearing-loss","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#989888","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/f19bc/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/26cfb/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/1b035/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/f19bc/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/921bf/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/b7ef5/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/64afafec0fb8655d2ab8f1e079f66e16/c9c6a/getty-images-6zuY59kYP2Y-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"If a parent is losing their hearing, you will know how easily conversations can become frustrating for everyone. Words are missed, things have to be repeated, and both of you can end up tired or exasperated. Over time, that frustration can quietly cause an older person to withdraw from conversation altogether, which is a real loss.\n\nThe good news is that a few simple changes to how you communicate can make an enormous difference. They are easy to learn, they quickly become second nature, and the","published_at":"13 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Staying Mentally Active: Hobbies, Puzzles and Lifelong Learning at Home","slug":"staying-mentally-active-hobbies-puzzles-and-lifelong-learning-at-home","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#080808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/f19bc/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/26cfb/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/1b035/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.jpg 1000w,\n/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/f19bc/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/921bf/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.webp 500w,\n/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/b7ef5/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.webp 1000w,\n/static/73c90782c519d88f709bab69f024b29a/c9c6a/vlad-sargu-ItphH2lGzuI-unsplash-1.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"We tend to think a great deal about keeping older people physically well, and rightly so. But keeping the mind active matters every bit as much. A stimulated, engaged mind supports mood, confidence, a sense of purpose, and general wellbeing, and it helps later life feel rich and full rather than empty and slow.\n\nThe good news is that staying mentally active is enjoyable, endlessly varied, and very achievable at home. Here is why it matters, and plenty of ideas for keeping a loved one's mind live","published_at":"06 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Coping With Hay Fever and Allergies in Older Adults","slug":"coping-with-hay-fever-and-allergies-in-older-adults","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/f19bc/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/26cfb/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/1b035/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/f19bc/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/921bf/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/b7ef5/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/ce4b1e17aafc94344f6ea070e02a38d2/c9c6a/getty-images-tAL05NAwaNc-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"Hay fever and allergies are often thought of as something that affects children and younger adults, but they can trouble older people too, and sometimes for the first time later in life. Itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and congestion are just as miserable at eighty as at eighteen, and for older adults there are a few extra things worth knowing.\n\nHere is a practical guide to managing hay fever and allergies in later life, including one genuinely important safety point about medication.\n\n\nAller","published_at":"06 Aug 2026"},{"title":"Sleep problems in older adults: causes and home-based solutions","slug":"sleep-problems-in-older-adults-causes-and-home-based-solutions","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/3c646/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/28380/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/6e54a/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.jpg 1000w,\n/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/3c646/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/76f01/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.webp 500w,\n/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/bd81f/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.webp 1000w,\n/static/767036c9dbd1ed1a2fcd43da41fa19f2/1c6e9/curated-lifestyle-GUgj5BjWp-8-unsplash-1.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1335}}},"excerpt":"A bad night's sleep is miserable at any age. In later life, it can be more than that. Poor sleep drains energy and lifts anxiety, but it also raises the risk of falls, clouds memory and concentration, lowers mood, and makes existing health problems harder to manage. And when an older person is awake and restless at night, the whole household often loses sleep with them.\n\nThe encouraging news is that sleep problems are rarely inevitable, and there is a great deal that can help. Here is what tends","published_at":"15 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Companionship as care: why loneliness is a health issue too","slug":"companionship-as-care-why-loneliness-is-a-health-issue-too","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/3c646/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/28380/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/6e54a/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/3c646/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/76f01/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/bd81f/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/ced33bbafbaae2eecd708e399c1017a7/1c6e9/curated-lifestyle-2V97EL093go-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1335}}},"excerpt":"When families think about care, they usually think about the practical things: help with washing and dressing, medication, meals, mobility, safety. All of it matters enormously. But there is another part of care that is easy to underestimate, and it may be just as important to your loved one's health as any of it.\n\nCompanionship.\n\nIt is tempting to think of company as a pleasant extra, the nice-to-have that sits alongside the \"real\" care. The evidence says otherwise. Loneliness is not just sad. ","published_at":"15 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Dehydration in older adults: a commonly missed risk at home","slug":"dehydration-in-older-adults-a-commonly-missed-risk-at-home","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#080808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/3c646/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.jpg","srcSet":"/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/28380/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.jpg 500w,\n/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/6e54a/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.jpg 1000w,\n/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/3c646/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/76f01/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.webp 500w,\n/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/bd81f/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.webp 1000w,\n/static/91fce8d9f4cba941c106264f7e668d8a/1c6e9/AdobeStock_191953491--1-.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1335}}},"excerpt":"Of all the risks facing an older person living at home, dehydration is one of the most common, one of the most serious, and one of the easiest to miss entirely. It rarely announces itself. It creeps up quietly, and by the time it becomes obvious, real harm may already have been done.\n\nThe good news is that it is very preventable, once you know what to look for. Here is why older adults are so vulnerable to dehydration, the signs that are so easily missed, and what genuinely helps at home.\n\n\nWhy ","published_at":"15 Jul 2026"},{"title":"UTIs and sudden confusion in older adults: why it is often mistaken for dementia","slug":"utis-and-sudden-confusion-in-older-adults-why-it-is-often-mistaken-for-dementia","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/3c646/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/28380/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/6e54a/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/3c646/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/76f01/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/bd81f/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/efa871d5c6693a842238062af134172f/1c6e9/curated-lifestyle-kb0dClMo6CI-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1335}}},"excerpt":"It is a scene that plays out in families all the time. A parent who was perfectly sharp last week is suddenly muddled. They do not know what day it is. They seem agitated, or unusually drowsy. They say things that make no sense, or seem not to recognise where they are.\n\nThe family's heart sinks, because there seems to be only one explanation. Dementia. It has finally arrived, or taken a sudden turn for the worse.\n\nBut very often, that is not what is happening at all. And knowing the difference i","published_at":"15 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Winter safety for older adults","slug":"winter-safety-for-older-adults","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#180808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/94182/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/26cfb/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/826b9/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/94182/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/921bf/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/323e8/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/e415430833396a9c1bb3078f6b1a5ed1/9181c/getty-images-uSPGbVTywck-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1331}}},"excerpt":"Winter has its own quiet beauty, but for older adults the colder months bring some very real risks. Cold weather is harder on the ageing body than many people realise, and it comes bundled with slippery pavements, dark afternoons, and the seasonal bugs that tend to hit older people hardest.\n\nWith a little preparation and care, though, these risks can be managed, and your loved one can stay safe, warm and well right through to spring. Here is how to help them through the winter.\n\n\nWhy winter is r","published_at":"09 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Long-distance caregiving: staying involved when you live far away","slug":"long-distance-caregiving-staying-involved-when-you-live-far-away","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#080808","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/f19bc/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/26cfb/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/1b035/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/f19bc/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/921bf/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/b7ef5/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/ed4975169b26131f671120539a26c6b8/c9c6a/centre-for-ageing-better-DkDOb9u_1cA-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"Caring for a loved one when you live far away, in another city, or even another country, comes with its own particular ache. There is the worry of not being there, the guilt that quietly follows you around, and the frustrating sense of being out of the loop, never quite sure how your parent or relative is really doing.\n\nIf you are a long-distance caregiver, you carry a great deal, often silently. The reassuring truth is that there is a lot you can do to stay genuinely involved, and genuinely rea","published_at":"09 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Heatwave safety for older adults","slug":"heatwave-safety-for-older-adults","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/f19bc/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/26cfb/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/1b035/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/f19bc/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/921bf/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/b7ef5/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/619608ba6e7edd1afbecb2eeab78c382/c9c6a/a-c-iVfZ6sA_xhg-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"When the summer sun arrives, it is tempting to think of hot weather as nothing but a treat. But for older adults, a heatwave can be genuinely dangerous. Our bodies become less able to cope with heat as we age, and every summer, hot spells pose real risks to older people's health.\n\nThe reassuring news is that, with a little awareness and some simple steps, those risks can be greatly reduced. Here is how to help an older loved one stay safe, cool and well when the temperature climbs.\n\n\nWhy older a","published_at":"09 Jul 2026"},{"title":"How do we keep your loved one's money safe?","slug":"how-do-we-keep-your-loved-ones-money-safe","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#c8d8c8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/dbd40/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/d3119/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/26b49/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/dbd40/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/cd07d/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/bf95e/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/e1f1e7c18c3ea6d71c52652a18e7a478/d36eb/vitaly-gariev-KEBUtOS3yFc-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1125}}},"excerpt":"Trusting someone to come into your loved one's home sometimes means trusting them around money too, for the weekly shop, perhaps, or a small errand. It is completely natural to want to know how that is handled, and to be sure your loved one's money is safe.\n\nIt is something we have thought about very carefully, and built real safeguards around. These protect your loved one, protect their finances, and protect everyone involved from any misunderstanding. Here is how it works.\n\n\nOnly when it is ne","published_at":"08 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Moving and handling: how our carers keep your loved one safe and mobile","slug":"moving-and-handling-how-our-carers-keep-your-loved-one-safe-and-mobile","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/81791/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/cf2d1/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/b3b6f/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/81791/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/d731e/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/993a1/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/ab21297b081ff715db9be1ff098ded77/fe213/getty-images-meSXWwLc11A-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1329}}},"excerpt":"As we get older, the everyday movements most of us take for granted, getting out of bed, rising from a chair, walking to the bathroom, can become harder and, at times, risky. So it is a very natural question for families to ask: can a live-in carer help with this, safely?\n\nThe answer is yes. Helping someone move safely and comfortably, known in care as \"moving and handling,\" is a core part of what our carers do. But how it is done matters enormously, both for your loved one's safety and for thei","published_at":"08 Jul 2026"},{"title":"How do our carers handle medication safely?","slug":"how-do-our-carers-handle-medication-safely","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8e8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/f19bc/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/26cfb/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/1b035/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/f19bc/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/921bf/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/b7ef5/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/0f3c87243609dba00f52788ee8c74edf/c9c6a/getty-images-5xgvpyTO6hQ-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1333}}},"excerpt":"Of all the things families think about when arranging care, medication is often near the top of the list. Is my loved one getting the right medicines, at the right times? Is it being handled safely? Are they still being treated as an adult who can make their own choices? These are important questions, and entirely the right ones to ask.\n\nManaging medication well is a core part of good care, and it is something we take extremely seriously. Here is how our carers handle it: safely, accurately, and","published_at":"08 Jul 2026"},{"title":"What happens if there is an accident?","slug":"what-happens-if-there-is-an-accident","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/3c646/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/28380/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.jpg 500w,\n/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/6e54a/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.jpg 1000w,\n/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/3c646/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/76f01/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.webp 500w,\n/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/bd81f/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.webp 1000w,\n/static/0a635e6549d0c7b2da01761722255444/1c6e9/curated-lifestyle-HbZtBWfrs9Y-unsplash.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":1335}}},"excerpt":"It is one of the worries that sits quietly at the back of every family's mind when arranging care: what if something goes wrong? What if my loved one has a fall, or there is a mistake? It is a completely fair question, and one you should feel able to ask any care provider.\n\nThe honest truth is that accidents can, occasionally, happen, particularly in later life. No one can promise they never will. What truly matters is how a provider works to prevent them, how they respond when something does ha","published_at":"08 Jul 2026"},{"title":"Mental capacity: how our carers respect your loved one's right to choose","slug":"mental-capacity-how-our-carers-respect-your-loved-ones-right-to-choose","feature_image_sharp":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#e8d8c8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/37b92/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/915f2/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/1db5b/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.jpg 1000w,\n/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/37b92/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.jpg 2000w","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/a5233/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.webp 500w,\n/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/1dd10/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.webp 1000w,\n/static/d139ff9867c752946093cf28158312f4/de019/AdobeStock_84435251-1-1.webp 2000w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 2000px) 2000px, 100vw"}]},"width":2000,"height":2023}}},"excerpt":"As a loved one grows older, or lives with a condition such as dementia, families sometimes find themselves worrying about decision-making. Who decides what is best? And, importantly, is my loved one's right to make their own choices still respected and protected?\n\nIt is a sensitive and genuinely important area, guided both by law and by a deep respect for the person at the heart of it. Here is how our carers approach mental capacity, and how we protect your loved one's right to choose for themse","published_at":"08 Jul 2026"}]}},"pageContext":{"slug":"recognising-signs-of-pain-in-a-parent-who-cant-easily-express-it","publicPath":"/blog/recognising-signs-of-pain-in-a-parent-who-cant-easily-express-it/","tagSlug":"safety-health-and-wellbeing","feature_image":"https://storage.ghost.io/c/57/1f/571fdc8a-aa9a-4837-a3ef-49c48fe6bc13/content/images/2026/08/junior-reis-R1H2Y7T7m3I-unsplash.jpg"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1371987667","1706655005"]}